Fodor's may use your email address to send you relevant information on site updates, account changes, and offers. For more information about your privacy and protection, please review our full Privacy Policy.

I would like to centre myself in one area in the north and one area in the south-I will be renting a house /apartment with great views and terrace in each area as we like to cook on holiday and not eat out all the time and of course have all the space to relax in

We plan on including several half and full day hikes as well as scenic drives and exploring a variety of villages and towns

Where would you suggest for both areas?

I prefer a nature environment " but am worried that some of the areas that look a little less urbanized may be unpractical to use as a base for exploring the island

But I sure do love the rugged beauty of the island and the spectacular views that I have seen in pictures and that I have seen in documentaries

We probably would stay on the west side of the island

I have sent out a slew of inquiries already to homeowners and many have responded-this is so much fun!!

Don't be too disappointed if you don't receive much info. Corsica is one of those places about which it is hard to get detail. I was hoping to go this year, spent hours and hours researching but as I was meeting with a friend coming from another country it all just became too hard to get flights which matched etc.

Have a look at Slow Travel web site as well, I got some good info from that forum.

The west coast is certainly the more scenic of the two IMO. (not having even been there, so no expert)

Put corsica in the search engine here on Fodors, barefoot.... did a report last year.

from which you'll see the major places to stay. It is a big island and as you've obviousdly recognied, too big to base in just one place to see it all. The Calvia and Porto Vecchio areas are well placed to explore the North and South respectively.